SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday stressed the need to assess the Department of Education’s distance learning program.

Gatchalian filed Senate Resolution 739, which seeks to assess the preparedness of basic education institutions to deliver quality education for SY 2021-2022 whether through limited face-to-face classes, distance learning, or alternative delivery methods.

A Pulse Asia Survey that Gatchalian commissioned revealed that among adults with children in basic education, only 46 percent said that their children are learning, 30 percent cannot say whether their children are learning or not learning, while 25 percent said that their children are not learning at all.

The same survey also revealed the top concerns raised by parents or guardians and learners — difficulty in answering modules, 53 percent; intermittent internet connection, 43 percent; difficulty in focusing or laziness to listen, 42 percent;  and lack of gadgets for online learning, 36 percent.

Gatchalian said DepEd should prepare for the resumption of in-person learning.

“Mahalagang matuto tayo sa mga hamong kinakaharap natin sa distance learning upang maging mas maayos ang paghahatid natin ng edukasyon sa susunod na pasukan. Dapat patuloy rin ang paghahanda natin sakaling pahintulutan na ang pagkakaroon ng limited face-to-face classes,” Gatchalian said.

Gatchalian added that there is an urgent need to address the education crisis that has been aggravated by prolonged school closures.